Top Tablet News – November 1 2012

The XPS 10 tablet is Dell’s answer to the Microsoft Surface or the Asus VivoTab, all of which are based on the Windows RT platform. However, while the latter two devices have already been launched, the XPS 10 has only just made it to the FCC. With a 10.1 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor at its core, the Dell XPS 10 also offers an optional keypad dock that transforms the device into a notebook that offers extra power backup as well. Pre-orders for the device are currently being accepted, though with the price starting at $500.

Acer Iconia Tab A110 now available for $230

The Acer tablet in the budget segment, the Iconia Tab A110, is now ready to be picked up for $230. The price has lost its competitive edge to the Nexus 7, which now costs $199 for the 16 GB version, while the A110 has just half the storage. The A110 also offers a lower resolution display compared to the Nexus 7, but comes with a microSD card slot and a microHDMI port, both of which are missing on the Google tablet. Other options in this segment include the B&N Nook HD and the Kindle Fire HD, though here again both run customized versions of Android 4.1 operating system while the Acer A110 offers a pure Android experience.

Nexus 7 consumption rate — a million a month

The Nexus 7 is one of the best selling tablets in the budget segment, though hardcore numbers to back-up the claim have always been elusive. Not anymore, after what ASUS Chief Financial Officer David Chang has said at the end of the company third quarter revelations: “at the beginning, it was, for instance, 500K units a month, then maybe 600, 700K. This latest month, it was close to 1 million.”

That comes to an average of around 700,000 units per month for the four months it has been available, with total sales so far standing at a not so bad 2.8 million.

Acer shelves its Windows RT tablet plans, for now at least

Acer has said it is folding back on its Windows RT tablet plans, as it wants to see how Microsoft is able to convince buyers with its Surface RT device or the Windows RT version itself. Acer has been the most vocal when Microsoft announced its own tablet plans and had even strongly recommended the software behemoth to quit hardware plans altogether. “Originally we had a very aggressive plan to come out very early next year, but because of Surface, our R&D development doesn’t stop, but we are much more cautious,” said company president Jim Wong. “We are watching how Surface is doing, how is RT accepted by customers, and how Microsoft is aggressive on RT and on Surface. We don’t know, but we want to see,” he further added.

Acer had been the first to announce tablet devices based on Windows RT, but has now made it clear it won’t come up with its own version before Q2 2013.

Sovan Mandal is the senior tablet and tech corespondent for goodereader.com. He brings a international approach to news that is not just applicable to the North American market, but also Asia, India, Europe and others. Sovy brings his own writing flavor to the website and is interested in Science Fiction, Technology and Writing. Any questions, send an email